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School Behaviour Secrets with Simon Currigan and Emma Shackleton

Why Isolation Rooms Don’t Work (And What Schools Should Be Doing Instead)

Oct 12, 2025 · 24 min · Episode 250 · 17.4 MB
0:00-24:02

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Summary

Do isolation rooms really work? And if they do… why do we see the same pupils sitting in them day after day?

In this episode, we dig into why – for many pupils - isolation rooms don’t change behaviour - and what schools can do instead to support the students who repeatedly end up there.

You’ll discover:

  • Why isolation can make behaviour worse (not better)
  • What’s really driving repeat incidents (and how to spot it using the PAIN framework)
  • How to shift from “respite" to “repair" using the R3 approach - and create spaces that build regulation, not resentment

If your school uses isolation or internal exclusion, this episode will help you rethink how to make it work for pupils, not against them.

Important links:

Get our FREE SEND Behaviour Handbook: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/send-handbook

Download other FREE behaviour resources for use in school: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/resources